Ryanair adds more flights from Scotland
Ryanair has announced plans to increase flights from Edinburgh next summer, which it claimed would safeguard jobs that had been under threat since the airline cut flights from the airport this winter.
The airline will offer 38 routes, an increase of six, from Edinburgh in 2013. It will also add two new routes from Prestwick, giving it a total of 27.
Ryanair axed eight routes with a total of 60 flights a week from Edinburgh in October after it was unable to beat the previous owners BAA down on air traffic control fees.
It is understood that the airport’s former managing director Gordon Dewar, who left in 2010 but returned to the airport as chief executive this summer following its purchase by Global Infrastructure Partners, managed to rekindle the relationship with the airline.
Dewar said: "When I came to Edinburgh Airport in the summer, it was clear that we had to repair the relationship with Ryanair and work with them to provide more choice for Scottish passengers. I’m pleased that today we can announce a new relationship and new routes. This announcement underlines the fact that Edinburgh and Scotland is an attractive market for a variety of operators and that we as an airport are open and willing to do business to expand our network and encourage growth."
The six new routes from Edinburgh are to Bologna, Beziers, Cagliari, Corfu, Katowice and Santander. Ryanair will also increase frequencies on five other routes, giving it a total of 246 a week, an increase of 5% over summer 2012.
From Glasgow it will add routes to Rzeszow and Warsaw Modlin and increase frequencies on four other routes, giving it a total of 95 flights a week, a 10% increase.
In Glasgow today, Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said: "Ryanair is delighted to announce its Scottish summer 2013 schedule, which will deliver over 3m passengers p.a. and sustain over 3,000 jobs at Edinburgh and Glasgow Prestwick Airports.
"Following successful negotiations with Edinburgh Airport’s new owners, Global Infrastructure Partners, Ryanair will grow its summer 2013 operations at Edinburgh by 11%, with 38 routes, including 6 new routes to/from Bologna, Beziers, Cagliari, Corfu, Katowice and Santander from April 2013, which will help deliver a total of 1.8m pax p.a. and sustain 1,800 "on-site" jobs at Edinburgh Airport.
"This is a prime example of what can be achieved by dismantling the BAA monopoly and we look forward to further growth at Edinburgh Airport under its new ownership."
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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